Sowing Seeds For Life

Programs: Sowing seeds for life (ssfl) provides beyond basic staple food to our clients we provide them with fresh produce, diapers, household and cleaning products and usually enough to get the average family though about two weeks. Our clients are no and low-income residents of the community. The items in which they receive in addition to those mentioned include calfresh application assistance, referrals to other service providers and hands on employment skills training. We serve close 7,000 individuals each month and give away over 1 million pounds of food annually. Our program services are unique to the industry in that we serve in a farmers market style of operation; this is done for very specific reasons. First, if offers the clients the ability to select the food and items they want and will use thus items are never wasted. Second, it makes for a happy environment for clients who often experience depression and stigma associated with the need to utilize food pantry services, our method plan greatly improves their overall well-being and third, it sheds a light on the needs within our community that give passersby as well as residents the opportunity to visually understand how they can get involved and help those in need. It is an overall positive endeavor. We receive in-kind donations from major and national retailers and volunteer assistance from them as well. Our volunteers assist clients with brief, case management, and application completion for other services such as cal-fresh, edison and the gas company among others. Major community events that assist our clients include our annual easter basket give away (which 200 children or more receive baskets), back to school supply drive, thanksgiving luncheon and christmas in the park (where over 600 children received toys and the entire pantry is taken out into the community to serve families). Fundraisers in support of our program include: the la verne country fair, the annual celebrity golf tournament and the hunger walk.